“Dear HTC,”

Last year was what you could call a game-changer for you guys…  Will 2012 be a year of software and hardware innovation?

On one hand, you were again recognized for being one of the top Android manufacturers in the world.  Profits were soaring until late in the year and every consumer who bought your products thought they were more than adequate enough for the job.  But then again, all success meets with an inevitable force, and thus began your second-half financial woes.

To put it simply: you became comfortable. Others would even say lazy.  But churning out that beautifully-constructed HTC Titan brought me back to the fact that your industrial design for mobile phones was what gave your company itsd DNA.  It’s what made you Taiwan’s number one international brand, even over companies like Acer.  Heck, HTC was the brains behind the first ever Android device to be released in the US in the T-Mobile G1 (which I stood in line for on October 22nd, 2008).

Back then, HTC was focused on competing against the folks in Cupertino; but things have changed, HTC.  It’s no longer about competing with Apple, it’s about taking a stake in this Android cesspool of OEMs and big names such as Samsung and Motorola.  Year after year, you showed us how hardware with unfinished software (in the Android operating system) could still make for a compelling and innovative device.  You made a big enough mark in the mobile ecosystem to be a part of the first Google-designed phone in the Nexus One.  The money kept rolling in and your engineers kept on engineering.

Maybe it was the media attention and the numerous accolades which tech sites where giving you guys.  Maybe Samsung’s TouchWiz interface put you in a comfort-zone just by looking at it.  Nevertheless, the facts and bank accounts have shown your complacency over the past few months.  You made a promise to jump-start the HTC brand in 2012.  You made a promise to stop manufacturing pointless smart phones for the sake of quantity over quality. Promises.

Did you keep them with the release of your cleverly-named One series?” Let’s dig in…

HTC One X (Review AT&T version.)

This behemoth of a device rocks a 4.7 inch, 1280 x 720 display with the latest and greatest SuperLCD 2 technology.  For people who don’t know what that actually means, it has higher viewing angles, an almost complete 180 degree viewing angle, a brighter screen, and richer colors.  Super AMOLED Plus still has deeper blacks, sadly.  One downside picky people may find is that the screen size does make this device quite large, but odds are, if you’re reading this article, it doesn’t disturb you in the slightest.

It features a beautifully crafted poly-carbonate  uni-body casing that supposedly has the ruggedness of metal, but still keeps a lightweight feel to it.  HTC certainly wasn’t the first company to incorporate the material into their handsets.  As a matter of fact, the Nokia Lumia 800 (Review) was the first phone is recent memory to do this, which was released only late last year.  Even the glass-wrapping method Nokia uses on the Nokia Lumia 800 found it’s way onto the HTC One X.  Nonetheless, it does live up to the hype.  It feels unlike anything else on the market right now.

As of the writing of this article, there have been multiple complaints of this “ruggedness of metal material” actually chipping, seemingly on its own.  Whether this problem is isolated to just a few devices is yet to be seen.

There’s a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera and a double-row of drilled speaker perforations; behind lurks a notification LED.  On the left edge is the micro USB port while the volume rocker is on the right; the power/lock button is on the top edge.  You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack and a row of five pins on the lower right hand corner of the rear panel for use with the optional docking cradle.  Why they continuously incorporate these pins on devices is a mystery to me.  It’s a gimmick feature.  The accessories needed to actually use them don’t come out until months after the release, sometimes never.

The main attraction for this device besides it’s screen is the newly improved camera.  An 8-megapixel unit which packs autofocus, an F2.0 aperture, 28mm lens, a backside-illuminated sensor, “smart” LED flash and support for 1080p HD video recording.  Real-world images taken with the device give credence to what HTC has claimed it’s capable of doing.  That customized sensor they put inside the device was worth it after all.

HTC One S: (Hands-On Video T-Mobile Version)

The second device in the line up,the HTC One S, is a pretty awesome runner up. With its 4.3 inch Super Amoled display, dual-core 1.5ghz snapdragon processor, 8 megapixel camera (1080p HD recording) and cleverly crafted industrial design, it’s no slouch in terms of a powerful smartphone. The One S is very similar to the One X in terms of specs. The only major differences between the two would be the screen resolution (540×960 pixels to 720×1280 pixels) , screen size (4.3 to 4.7 inches), screen technology (Super Amoled vs SuperLCD 2), internal storage (16gb to 32gb), and the processors, which I’ll get to in a little bit . I’m using the international versions of the device for my comparison since American versions usually cripple some aspect of the device. Quad-core chipsets have become the new rave of 2012.. Nvidia ‘s Tegra 3 chip has brought attention yet again to the great innovation we are witnessing in the mobile space. Most people see a a dual-core chipset (which the One S has) and automatically assume it is inferior Nvidia’s new offering of quad-cores. Don’t let spec junky mania fool you folks. Qualcomm’s S4 dual-core processor is just as powerful if not better than Nvidia’s offering. With benchmarks that rival its competitor, increased battery life, and already having LTE capability makes the One S seemingly neck and neck with the One X.  HTC has really outdone themselves if a device of this caliber is their mid-range offering.

HTC One V:(Hands-On Video)

The HTC One V is the third and final device in HTC’s mission to bring their name back to glory. The One V is a lower-tier device with modest specs that for a first time smartphone buyer will be more than adequate to get the job done. The industrial design of the device was inspired by the legendary, HTC Legend ( no pun intended) or better known as the HTC G2. It has the infamous chin that literally serves no purpose but to look different and rather weird. The guts of the device contain an S2 Snapdragon processor, 3.7 inch Super LCD Screen (which is somewhat grainy in quality), an abysmal 1gb of internal storage, and admirable 5 megapixel camera. Even tho its specs don’t jump at the average tech geek, it chugs along quite fine. The user experience, even combined with HTC’s skin, isn’t crippled at all. The image processing and browser seem to be the only parts of the software that have taken a hit. But its anodized shell should make up for those shortcomings. All in all , the One S is a solid smartphone for any consumers seeking something powerful, yet affordable.

LTE

Even though I’m not personally an Android user, this had me grinding my gears a bit.  I’m no spec junky, but Nvidia REALLY needs to step it up with the LTE support.  The insides of the European HTC One X hold a NVIDIA 1.5GHz quad-core (penta-core, really) Tegra 3 chipset, paired with 1GB of RAM and 32GB of non-expandable storage.  NVIDIA insists that its 4+1 core design means performance won’t outweigh longevity.  It packs a 1800mah battery that’s non-removable. You be the judge of that one folks.  Due to Nvidia not incorporating LTE into its chip until late 2012/early 2013, the North American version will come with a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chipset powering it’s gut.

This processor is no slouch by any means.  You won’t even see or feel the difference in user experience to be quite honest.  It does, however, diminish the pure processing power the device was originally capable of.  Connectivity includes the usual WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with high-quality audio support, and NFC.  The micro USB port supports MHL-HDMI with the appropriate adapter (that’s not included), GPS, gyroscope, digital compass, proximity, ambient light sensors, and G-Sensor.

When it comes to HTC’s promise of putting innovation back on the totem pole, they didn’t disappoint.  The HTC One X from a hardware perspective is in a league of its own and can only spawn more innovation from the likes of HTC in the near future.

HTC Sense 4

Those words have haunted pure Android-experience users for the past couple years and you can’t blame them.  Skinning Android has become the new bloat-ware for the entire operating system.  There was a time when Android actually needed these “enhancements” to function efficiently and excel in UX.  It was, and still is, an unfinished product.  It has come a long way since its entry into the mobile space, however.

Adding Matias Duarte to the team at Google has brought some fast and necessary innovation to the operating system and even I must admit, has brought me back (or at the very least, tempted me) to become an Android user once again.  When HTC Sense for Android was first announced, it brought eye-candy to the platform that turned heads.  For some odd reason, HTC figured eye-candy was all they needed to differentiate themselves from the pack of Android OEM’s.  It did, but in the worst possible way.

Device after device, HTC Sense bogged down the OS more and more until the user experience became the sole reason why consumers didn’t want to buy their devices.  It was yet another thing HTC said it would fix in its new initiative of re-awakening its DNA. The HTC One X comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” out of the box.  HTC decided to stick with the old custom skin in this model, but it’s being called HTC Sense 4.0 nowadays.

Gone are the eye-catching but GPU-sapping 3D home screen widgets of last year, replaced with a cleaner looking interface more in line with Ice Cream Sandwich. The app launcher controls and other buttons redesigned, and even the app-switcher UI has been replaced.  A Cover-Flow-style carousel of running software instead of the basic thumbnail previews.  I can’t help but feel that HTC is still crippling the user experience.  Sense has changed, there’s no doubting that, but its change is more towards minimizing the look of what’s still truly going on with Sense.

They’ve down-sized the already-over-sized widgets and icons.  Making the decision to use a single Cover-Flow view of the apps running in the background is beyond idiotic.  The original system already baked into Ice Cream Sandwich gives a four-application view of what’s running in the background. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand a manufacturer has to have an element to their product in order to differentiate themselves from the competition, but you’re dealing with an open-source platform, HTC.  Your credo should be incorporated into the hardware!  The route you’ve taken means software can’t be your forte!  Things aren’t all bad though, HTC is learning from its mistakes.  The camera software, on top of making an effort to change Sense, is a valiant-enough effort to keep consumers interested in their devices.  I can only hope HTC continues to listen to consumers from here on out in order to put a dent in those Samsung sales.

The Bad?  When you get down to it, has HTC kept their promise of bringing forth a new dawn of devices that are compelling to the consumer?  Yes and No.  HTC’s push in the hardware department is nothing short of amazing.  They aren’t only borrowing key components from companies like Nokia (who wouldn’t), they’re also doing what’s necessary to be at the peak of tech innovation.  The guys in the lab back in Taiwan have created a device that can spawn a new era of Android devices that work seamlessly with its counterpart in software.  Where HTC falls short in bridging the gap of perfection is Sense.  Pride can be harmful not only to everyday people, but huge corporations such as HTC.

Just look at RIM.  RIM kept it’s head up it’s ass for far too long and they will pay the price for it.
They pretty much are right now, come to think of it.  Your strengths can only overshadow your weaknesses for so long until they’re no longer as relevant as they once were.

HTC has to embrace the idea of giving people the option to want Sense.  Since it’s no longer a necessity, the next best thing can only be choice.  Once HTC implements this into its business DNA they have a chance to be the #1 Android OEM again.

The HTC One X and the EVO 4G LTE are two flagship super phones for the U.S. and they are now delayed indefinitely by U.S. customs for investigation of Apple patent infringement . Apple had won an exclusion order last December on the imports of HTC Android devices at the International Trade Commission.  The issues have to do with the way the messaging app and browser convert phone numbers and e-mail address into clickable links for actions within the phone.  The exclusion was delayed until April 19th to allow HTC to find a way around the patents but the order was broad enough that it could hold any HTC device that falls under ‘”personal data and mobile communications devices.” HTC has stated the follow below about this issue:

This is a pretty big blow as currently the HTC One X for AT&T is out of stock with no signs of when new shipments will come in and the EVO 4G LTE was due to start selling this Friday. There isn’t a time table yet on when this will be resolved and both the One X and EVO 4G LTE will be available again but HTC has posted the following statement on the matter below:

The US availability of the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order. We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval. The HTC One X and HTC Evo 4G LTE have been received enthusiastically by customers and we appreciate their patience as we work to get these products into their hands as soon as possible.

Lets hope that this gets resolved quickly and the consumers who have been looking forward to these super phones can get what they want.  We’ll add more news as we get it but for now share your thoughts below about this and do you think that this happen to other Android phones when they are ready to launch in the US like the Samsung Galaxy S III?

Via The Verge

Via DROIDDOG

The HTC One V is the entry smartphone in the  HTC One series us here in the U.S. The phone comes with a 3.7 inch display, 1.0 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor, Android 4.0 with Sense 4 and 5 megapixel camera with zero shutter lag and 720p HD video capture, The One V should hit many pre-paid markets and looks to be a good value for performance that you get. Check out our hands-on demo and pictures below.

Fresh off of it announcement this morning the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE gets a nice hands on video. This is the 3rd DROID Incredible in the series and it rocks a 4 inch Super LCD qHD display, 1.2 GHz Snapdragon S4 Processor, 8 megapixel rear facing camera with zero shutter lag, Beats Audio, 4G LTE and Android 4.0 with Sense 4 UI. Check out the pictures and hands on video below.

The HTC One V is on its way to the U.S. and will complete the HTC One series for us here in the U.S. The phone is on the low-end side of the spectrum so expect many pre-paid carriers to push this device on their network.  The phone comes with a 3.7 inch display, 1.0 GHz Snapdragon S3 processor, Android 4.0 with Sense 4 and 5 megapixel camera. We’ll get some hands-on time with it while we are here at CTIA 2012 so stay tuned.

Press Release:

HTC One V to Arrive in the U.S. This Summer

HTC One V aims to impress with premium design, amazing camera and authentic sound

First U.S. preview to be held at International CTIA Wireless 2012

 

New Orleans – May 8, 2012 –HTC, a global designer of smartphones, today announced the global version of the HTC One™ V, part of its highly anticipated HTC One series of smartphones, will be displayed for the first time in the U.S. during the International CTIA Wireless 2012.  The HTC One V is expected to be available through a variety of U.S. partners later this summer.

 

The HTC One series represents HTC’s most premium mobile experience with a new level of premium design, amazing camera and authentic sound experience. With the HTC One V, HTC integrates Android™ 4.0 (ICS) with HTC Sense™ 4, the new version of HTC’s branded user experience with HTC ImageSense™, a new suite of camera and imaging features that set HTC One apart from other phones.  HTC Sense 4 also includes broad enhancements to audio quality and simplifies how people listen to music on their phone.

 

Amazing Camera

With HTC ImageSense, the HTC One V offers an amazing camera that delivers fast image capture, better image quality under adverse conditions, and an easy-to-use display with side-by-side photo and video capture buttons.  The camera can be quickly activated from the home screen and the superfast autofocus enables continuous shooting to ensure you don’t miss those special moments.

The 5-megapixel camera with f/2.0 back illuminated sensor, means that more light is allowed into the sensor to capture quality photos in adverse conditions, such as low light, no light or bright backlighting. With HTC Video Pic™, the smartphone is also capable of capturing still photos while simultaneously recording HD video, and in addition, can capture still images during video playback.

 

HTC Sense 4 also integrates Dropbox, enabling customers to get 25 gigabytes of free Dropbox space for two years – enough to keep more than 10,000 high-quality photos – and makes it easy to edit, save and share photos, videos, documents and other kinds of files.  HTC One V also gives an easy way to share photos and videos with family and friends through Media Link HD* which wirelessly sends content from the smartphone to any TV with an HDMI input.

 

Authentic Sound

HTC One V also provides authentic sound with Beats Audio™ that allows listeners to experience music as the artist intended, creating rich, premium sound experiences whether listening to music, watching a movie, or playing a game.  HTC Sync Manager software makes it easy to transfer songs, artists and playlists from a music library on a computer to the smartphone.  The new HTC Car Stereo Clip* also allows customers to easily bring their mobile music to their car’s sound system.

 

Premium Design
Utilizing the classic, award-winning design of the HTC Legend, the HTC One V brings iconic design to a smartphone with broad appeal and a premium experience.  The timeless, simple aluminum unibody architecture and slightly curved chin allow the HTC One V to fit smoothly in the palm of your hand. The 3.7-inch screen is a delight to the eyes, made out of reinforced glass and is scratch resistant.  The HTC One V features a speedy Qualcomm™ Snapdragon S3 1 GHz processor, and is supported by a 1,500 mAh battery.

Availability

The HTC One V will be available in the United States from a variety of partners in the summer of 2012.  More information on the HTC One series of smartphones can be found at http://www.htc.com/us/.

There is a new DROID coming to Verizon and it’s the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE. The 3rd installment in the DROID Incredible series comes with 4 inch Super LCD qHD display, 1.2 Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 8 megapixel rear facing camera, 1,700 mAh battery, Beats Audio and will run Android 4.0 with Sense 4 on top. Check the press release for more info.

Press Release:

HTC AND VERIZON WIRELESS REVEAL

DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE

New DROID INCREDIBLE Offers Advanced Camera Capabilities, Beats Audio and 4G LTE Speeds from Verizon Wireless

NEW ORLEANS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – From International CTIA Wireless^® 2012, Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced the new and exclusive DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC.  The new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE enhances the customer experience by offering high-quality photo and audio capabilities, combined with the power of 4G LTE speeds.  Running the latest version of HTC Sense^™ 4.0, HTC’s branded user experience integrated with Google’s^™ mobile operating system, Android^™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, the new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE brings a sophisticated, pocket-friendly device to America’s fastest 4G LTE network.

DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC features Beats Audio^™ which is enabled across the entire experience for a rich and authentic sound whether customers watch a YouTube^™ video, play a game, or stream music over 4G LTE.  Beats Audio allows customers to listen to music the way the artist intended with thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs.

The DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE captures life’s special moments with an advanced 8-megapixel camera with quick activation from the home screen so customers never miss that perfect shot.  Additionally, there’s no longer a need to choose between shooting video or taking photos, HTC Video Pic^™ allows users to shoot HD video and capture photos at the same time.  With 4G LTE speeds, sharing photos and video via email, uploading to the cloud or posting to social networking sites is a breeze.

DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE is packed with features to make life easier and customizable.  Customers can personalize and use lock screen shortcuts to quickly access their four favorite apps.  Folders can easily be created on any home screen for additional customization and organization.  A Read Later feature allows people short on time the ability to save browser content like news articles and websites that can be viewed later, even while offline.  The smartphone is also NFC capable so customers can take advantage of Android Beam^™ to quickly share Web pages, apps, contacts and YouTube^™ videos with friends by simply tapping two compatible phones together.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network is available in 230 markets across the Unites States.  In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. When customers travel outside of 4G LTE coverage areas, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, where available, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.

Additional features:      

• 4-inch super LCD qHD display
• 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, LED flash, BSI, f/2.2 and 28 mm lens
• Front-facing camera for video chatting with friends and family
• 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon^™ S4 processor
• Mobile Hotspot capable to share 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• Support for up to 32 GB microSD^™ memory card
• 1,700 mAh lithium ion removable battery

 

The new DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com in the coming weeks.

With today’s announcement of the new Samsung Galaxy S III it brings on a new challenger to the top Android smartphone spot that is currently held by the HTC One X. Both  Android 4.0 smartphones come with very similar specs and features which are both the most powerful we’ve see on Android smartphones to date. It will be a very interesting and close battle once the Galaxy S3 is released and we can get a full on versus between both smartphones to see which one will reign king of Android. But for now lets look at the pre-fight tale of the specs.

Samsung Galaxy S III Quick Specs

• 4.8 Inch HD Super AMOLED display 720p resolution
• 1.4 GHz Exynos Quad-Core Processor
• 1 GB or Ram
• 16, 32 or 64 GB storage options with micro SD card slot support up to 64 GB
• 8 Megapixel Camera with LED Flash, 1080p HD video capture and Zero Shutter Lag
• 1.9 Megapixel From Facing camera with 720p HD video capture
• HSPA+ 21 Mbps international and 4G LTE in the US
• Bluetooth 4.0
• NFC
• Wi-Fi N
• 2,100 mAH battery Removable
• Android 4.0 with Touch Wiz
• Release Date May 29 (Europe) Summer 2012 (June) (North America)

HTC One X Quick Specs (International and U.S. AT&T version (Review) and Sprint Variant (EVO 4G LTE Hands-On))

• 4.7 inch Super LCD display 720p
• Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad core processor. US Version uses Snapdragon S4 Dual core both 1.5 Ghz
• 1 GB or Ram
• 16 GB of storage us. 32 GB International no micro SD card support
• 8 Megapixel camera, LED Flash,1080p HD video capture and Zero Shutter Lag with f2.0
• 1.3 Megapixel front facing camera  with HD Video capture
• HSPA+  International and LTE in the US
• Bluetooth 4.0
• NFC
• Wi-Fi N
• 1,800 MAH battery non-removable
• Android 4.0 with Sense 4
• Available Internationally and on AT&T, Sprint Variant Due By June 2012

Today AT&T announce that they will be releasing the HTC One X on May 6th for $199.99 and pre-orders will start April 22nd. The One X comes with a 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor, 4.7 inch 720p HD display, 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture and takes uses HTC’s ImageChip and ImageSense technology for superior image quality and will comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with Sense 4. Watch the video and read the press release below for more.

HTC One X Available Exclusively from AT&T Beginning May 6 for $199.99

4G LTE Entertainment Superphone features Amazing Camera and Beats Audio Experience, Runs on Android 4.0 and HTC Sense 4

Dallas, Texas, Bellevue, Washington, April 18, 2012

 

Key Facts

• The first new smartphone from AT&T to run the latest version of the Android operating system (4.0), the HTC One X, will be available from AT&T beginning May 6 for $199.99.
• HTC One X is AT&T’s first smartphone with Beats by Dr. Dre™ Audio built-in to the hardware and software.
• HTC One X is the first smartphone from AT&T to offer HTC Sense™ 4 to deliver an amazing camera with improvements to the lens, sensor and software, an authentic sound experience with Beats by Dr. Dre Audio, and long-lasting battery performance to accommodate heavy mobile use.
• Pre-orders for HTC One X will begin April 22.  Customers can visit any company-owned retail store or http://www.att.com/onex for more information.

Sound at its Finest

HTC One X is the first device from AT&T with HTC’s authentic sound experience featuring Beats by Dr. Dre Audio integration, offering rich, full sounds with professional-grade sound engineering to play the music how the artist intended.  Beats Audio provides a distortion-free sound at higher volume and rich bass at all levels for whether you are watching movies, playing games or streaming music.  HTC One X is custom tuned for the best audio performance when used with Beats by Dr. Dre accessories,** including the Beatbox (AT&T exclusive), Wireless HD Stereo Bluetooth Headphones, Beats™ Solo™ HD Headphones, and UR Beats™ In-ear Headphones.

With built-in software on the HTC One X, customers can connect it to a computer and HTC’s Sync Manager software automatically installs to your computer and once connected, makes it easy to move music and playlists to your phone from your music library.

Entertainment Everywhere

Consumers’ ability to incorporate their smartphones into every aspect of their lives continues with the HTC One X.  Watching TV shows or movies will be even more enjoyable on its 4.7-inch 720p HD screen with sharp images that appear detailed and visible from every angle – even angled up to 80 degrees.  HTC Watch gives you access to thousands of Hollywood blockbusters with minimal wait time and offers companion content to find out more about the film.  You can begin watching the movie moments after it starts downloading and wirelessly share the content on any HD TV using HTC’s wireless HDMI Media Link HD adapter.**

The laminated cover glass and touch layer eliminates light reflection for superior sharpness and clarity, and is protected with Corning® Gorilla® Glass.  HTC One X is made with a beautifully crafted polycarbonate unibody design that showcases its clean lines and seamless construction.

Superior Camera

For many consumers, their smartphone doubles as their camera.  HTC One X’s 8MP HD camera features ImageSense and rivals traditional digital cameras with improvements to every part of the camera including the lens, sensor and software, while integrating HTC’s new ImageChip to make quality picture taking a breeze.

Fumbling with the menu and settings on your smartphone is frustrating when the perfect shot is right in front of you. In less than one second, you can launch the camera from the lock screen and within another second the camera’s autofocus zeros in on your subject and zero shutter lag lets you take continuous shots simply by holding the shutter button.  HTC One X takes beautiful photos under low-light, no-light, and back-light conditions. The Video Pic feature allows the capture of still pictures while recording video in HD as well as the ability to capture a still image from previously recorded video.

The HTC One X’s next-generation 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 dual-core processor allows customers to run heavy duty tasks such as creating and editing homemade videos smoothly without any lag, while the 1,800 mAh embedded battery, and software enhancements that improve battery performance by 50-100 percent over previous HTC phones, offers hours of uninterrupted entertainment time.

HTC Sense 4

HTC One X will be one of the first devices in the U.S. with the simple and intuitive HTC Sense 4 user experience.  It helps make the Beats Audio experience possible while listening to any audio component and features camera enhancements including a quick launch feature for the camera on the HTC One X – dramatically cutting down the time needed to move from the lock screen to snapping a picture.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Accessories sold separately.

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets.  4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available.  Deployment ongoing.  Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.  Learn more at att.com/network.

Limited-time offer. HTC One X requires a new 2-yr wireless agreement with voice (min $39.99/mo) and min monthly data plan ($20/mo). Subject to Wireless Customer Agrmt. Credit approval req’d. Activ fee $36/line. Geographic, usage and other terms, conditions and restrictions apply, and may result in svc termination. Coverage and svcs not avail everywhere. Taxes and other charges apply. Data (att.com/dataplans): If usage exceeds your monthly data allowance, you will automatically be charged overage for additional data provided. Early Termination Fee (att.com/equipmentETF): After 30 days, ETF up to $325. Restocking fee up to $35. Other Monthly Charges/line may include a Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge (up to $1.25), a gross receipts surcharge, federal and state universal svc charges, fees and charges for other gov’t assessments. These are not taxes or gov’t req’d charges. Visit a store or att.com/wireless to learn more about wireless devices and services from AT&T.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available athttp://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at@ATT.

About HTC

Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by HTC Sense™, a multilayered graphical user interface that vastly improves user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.

© 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

^© 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

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Two 4G LTE Windows Phone battle but only one can come out the victor. This battle is between the Nokia Lumia 900 and the HTC Titan II. Both phones are exclusive to AT&T and both are the first 4G LTE offerings for the Windows Phone platform.  It’s not often we get a Windows Phone battle that has two phones with high-end specs  so we are going to break down every detail we can between these two to smartphones to see which is the best of the best when it comes to Windows Phone. Check out the video below and share your thoughts.

About Nokia Lumia 900

The Nokia Lumia 900 is the first 4G LTE Windows Phone for the U.S. It comes with a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED Clear Back Display, 1.4 GHz Single-core processor, front-facing camera with a wide-angle lens, 8 megapixel rear facing camera with a Carl Zeiss lens,  F2.2, and dual LED flash, 4G LTE and Windows Phone 7.5. It will also come with exclusive apps such as Nokia Drive, Nokia Maps and Nokia Transit. The Lumia 900 is set to be Nokia’s comeback into the U.S. Market

Nokia Lumia 900 Full Review

About HTC Titan II/ HTC Titan 2

The HTC Titan II is an update from the very popular HTC Titan. It adds a new 16 megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD video capture and  4G LTE data. The rest of the specs are close to the same as the first HTC Titan with a massive 4.7 inch Super LCD display, 1.5 GHz single-core processor,  512MB  of  RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, front facing camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. The Titan 2 is giving HTC fans who want Windows Phone a high-end camera and 4G LTE.

HTC Titan II / HTC Titan 2 Full Review

The HTC Titan 2 is a sequel to the very recently release HTC Titan I . The Titan II kept the same concept as the first Titan with its large display and premium design but adds a 16 megapixel camera and 4G LTE. Is this worth upgrade your Titan 1 to?

Good Quality Build And Large Display But Low Resolution

When you first pick up the Titan 2 you will notice its solid feel and lightness for having such a large screen. The phone has a nice mix of solid plastic and aluminum with soft touch back. The battery is non-removable and the only back plate that comes off is at the bottom where the SIM card slot is location. You want to be careful of removing the plate when the phone is on as it will turn the phone on immediately when it’s removed.

The Titian 2 comes with a  4.7 inch Super LCD display. While its large size is good for viewing content its held back by the locked resolution of 800 x 480 which is Windows Phone requirement. Now don’t get me wrong the screen does look good but you will notice the loss of sharpness and details when watching video or looking at pictures. Apps also have pixilation in them since the can’t take advantage of the screen size and also when view web pages you will need to zoom in to read text and zooming in all the way the text is just not as sharp as you would want it to be. But besides those details anyone that is looking for a large screen on their phone and no worried about resolution then this display will be fine.

16 Megapixel Camera Performs Well But Audio on HD Video is Terrible.

The 16 Megapixel camera on the Titan 2 is the largest you’re currently going to find on a U.S. Windows Phone. The camera for still images are impressive considering that HTC added software to the stock Windows Phone camera app that helps produce better image quality and the best I’ve seen on a Windows Phone to date. They also give you the ability to take Burst shots which take 5 quick pictures simultaneously for action shots and Panoramic Mode that takes impressive panoramic shots.  This is the type of software that needs to be added in the default camera app to bring the quality of Windows Phone cameras up.

Panoramic Shots

Burst Shots

However while the images look good the 720p HD video is also good but comes with terrible audio quality. It’s a shame how poor the audio is with the video. HTC needs to be more consistent in this as they have some top-tier phones will good audio with video and some that are just plain terrible. In the case with the HTC Titan its plain terrible audio with the video and you won’t be replacing your current video recording solution with it.

1.5 Ghz Processor, 16 GB of Storage & 4G LTE

The Titan 2 runs Windows Phone 7.5 Mango powered by a 1.5 GHz single-core processor that keeps the experience fluid and smooth as Windows Phone is know phone. The extra boot is processing speed is more notice in the increase speed of apps loading and the responsiveness of apps themselves. They feel snappier.  The phone only has 512 MB ram but you won’t notice any slow down in the phone. You get 16 GB of build-in storage which you can’t physically increase so your stuck with it but there are cloud solution such as SkyDrive for more storage but for the media buff that wants tons of music, movies, pictures and videos the onboard storage will fill up quickly. Speaking of music we did notice when listening to music using HTC’s Sound Enhancer software that songs would have a skip in them for the first second of the song. It sounds like the software is activating each time. It seems like a bug that HTC needs to fix as I haven’t experience this on other HTC Windows Phones.

For connections you have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and 4G LTE. The Titian II is the 2nd 4G LTE Windows Phone in the market and Internet Share is available on here to create a hotspot that supports up to 5 devices. We found the LTE speeds to be good but not the blazing fast speeds we’ve seen on other AT&T 4G LTE phones. On average the phone got between 8Mbps – 9Mbps download and a steady 4 Mbps upload.

Good Battery Life, Good Call Quality Overall Good Phone

For battery life I test as a power user at first and was able to get between 8 – 10 hours with multiple e-mail accounts, video streaming, web browsing, GPS and listening to music. For the moderate user they should achieve 12 – 14 hours on a single charge. Call quality is excellent with both sides of the call sounding clear and crisp.

There isn’t much more to say about this phone other than if you want a big screen and big camera it’s the phone to go with. If your on a Titan I then I would suggest holding on to that one and waiting for a more significant upgrade.  The HTC Titan 2 is a solid Windows Phone offering but not the best out there.